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Title:
Marana Regional Airport KAVQ Aviation Safety Program - HYBRID
Topic:
Airport & Tower Updates, Aviation Safety Advisory Group ASAG, Local ATC Managers, Laser Risks, and Parachute Operation Safety
Date and Time:
Saturday, March 28, 2026, starting at 10:00 Arizona Download Calendar File
Speaker(s):
Galen Beem, Cary Grant, Ernest Copeland & Brian Mehrtens, FPM,Scott Woodworth, ATC, Dr. Cowan, Justin Hodge, Patrick Nikitenko
Brief Description:

Please join us for informative presentations 10:00 am AZ (1700 GMT) until 12:00 pm (1900 GMT)
Speakers will stay afterward for questions and answers.


Cary Grant, President Aviation Safety Advisory Group of Arizona (ASAG) - Facilitator & Presenter
Rick Sibley, JDR Logistics - Site Host
Galen Beem, Superintendent, Marana Regional Airport - Arizona Airport of the Year 
Airport & Tower Updates.
Geoff Kusel - Ryan Air Traffic Manager  
Justin Jimenez, Manager U90 Tucson TRACON; James Buggy U90 TUS TRACON Staff  Support Specialist
Nathan Cooper - Tucson Air Traffic Control Manager
Scott Woodworth, Pima County Sheriff Department - Laser Data and Enforcement
Ernest Copeland, FAA, FAASTeam Program Mgr (A/W) - Laser and Drone data
Brian Mehrtens, FAA, FAASTeam Program Mgr (Ops) 
Arizona Parachute Operations Safety Workgroup- Dr. Thomas Cowan, Lead; Justin Hodge, Account Executive, Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS), Pat Nikitenko, Skydive Marana & Michael Coleman 




 

 

Select Number:
WP07140004
Location of Seminar:
Marana Regional Airport East Ramp Hangar
11155 N Air Commerce Way

Marana, AZ 85653
Directions to Venue:

Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ) - Arizona Airport of the Year
Fly-In, taxi to the East Ramp Hangar, bring chocks, tie-down ropes/chains, etc.
Drive-in, from Tucson West on I-10 to Exit 242, Avra Valley Road. From Phoenix, East on I-10 to Exit 242. Then, West on Avra Valley Rd approximately 4.4 miles to North Air Commerce Way which is immediately West of the canal and is 0.80 miles East of the airport's main entrance. Drive North to ample parking.

If not attending live, Hybrid on Zoom can be accessed by computer, mobile device, or telephone. To register for the Zoom Meeting click the link below. If the link fails, you can cut/paste the link into a browser.

We recommend registering prior to the meeting to avoid last minute delays logging on. You can register in advance for this meeting at: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nB05Z3UjQi6Lw0HIPP2npA

After clicking on the registration blue button, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link to join the meeting, (either from a PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android), and the meeting Password.
Registering for Zoom also registers you for WINGS credit if you have an FAASafety.gov account. In this case there is no need to also register on https://www.faasafety.gov/

However, if your Zoom email is different from your FAASafety.gov email, please enter in the Zoom Chat the name and email you use on https://www.faasafety.gov/  


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Fly-in Seminar?:
Yes  KAVQ
Seating:
100 seats at the facility, 94 remaining for online registration.
Registration Information:
Sponsoring Division:
SDL FAASTeam
Contact Information:
Lee Unger
Phone: (520) 990-3792
leeunger4@gmail.com
Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s):

Laser Safety  KOLD interview with Cary Grant, Mar. 28, 2025 https://www.kold.com/2025/03/29/arizona-ranked-sixth-nation-laser-strikes/
KOLD interview with Deputy Scott Woodworth, Sep. 3, 2025 https://www.kold.com/2025/09/04/record-number-laser-strikes-2025-southern-arizona/
See Preventing Laser Strikes on Aircraft https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/preventing-laser-strikes-on-aircraft

Visit Aviation Safety Advisory Group of Arizona, Inc. (ASAG) website
https://asagaz.org and the ASAG Facebook page

Thanks to Dr. Thomas Cowan, for the linked "15 Key Points of Military Parachute Training — for Pilots". Special thanks to Justin Hodge, Account Executive, Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS), Pat Nikitenko, Skydive Marana, and Michael Coleman for your contributions to this project along with support from all in the Parachute Operations Safety Workgroup, Ernest Copeland, FAA FPM; Cary Grant, Sonny Durante, Tito Sanchez, Brian Stamper, Ph.D., and Lee Unger. Please share this document on your websites and in social media, it is a great resource of information on parachute safety for pilots. 
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/events/WP/WP07/2025/WP07134455/15_Key_Points-Military_Parachute_Training_for_Pilots-_Thomas_Cowan_-_2025-01-03.2.pdf

Thanks to Sonny Durante for "Know Before You Go!! Parachute Operations at Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ)" with the support of the Parachute Operations Safety Workgroup  Linked here for reading and sharing  https://www.faasafety.gov/files/events/WP/WP07/2024/WP07127584/Parachute_Operations_at_Marana_Regional_Airport_240220.pdf
This document may be used as a template for a flight planning document for other non-towered airports that have parachute operations.
 
Thanks to the late and dearly missed Craig Tompkins, FAA FPM, for "Avoiding helicopter wake turbulence in the air and on the ground"  at the March 1, 2025, Marana Regional Safety program highlighting this caution  Remember 3 - 3 - 2.   On the ground stay 3 rotor widths away; In the air stay 3 nautical miles away, in trail wait at least 2 minutes.  Please post and share the linked flyer, How to Avoid Helicopter Wake Turbulence.
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/events/WP/WP07/2025/WP07136751/Helicopter_wake_turbulance_avoidance_3-3-2.pdf
 
Thanks to Jim Pitman for  "Arizona Flight Training Workgroup (AFTW) Pilot Brief" linked here https://aftw.org/brief Please share this information with all Pilots, including Instructors, DPEs and Flight Schools who operate in Arizona. Please join us at AFTW meetings.
 
Safety Product  by Brian L. Stamper, Ph.D., FAASTeam Representative, from KRYN Ryan Airfield Recommended NW Entries
https://www.faasafety.gov/files/events/WP/WP07/2023/WP07124011/KRYN_NW_entry_procedures_stand_alone_230510__.pdf
Greater Tucson Practice Areas https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2018/Nov/Tucson_Practice_Areas.pdf Parachute operations have been announced in the Silverbell practice area.
 
Arizona Pilots Association (APA) monthly newsletter https://azpilots.org/pilot-info/newsletters 
Arizona Flight Training Workgroup AFTW
Find next meeting https://aftw.org/next-meeting/  Tuesday May 12, 2026   04:00 PM MST (2300 GMT) Meeting Minutes https://aftw.org/category/meetings/minutes/

Thanks to Geoff Kusel, Ryan Field Tower Manager and Arizona Air Traffic Control Communicator of the Year  and  Brian STAMPER, Ph.D., FAASTeam Representative, for the RYN Pilot Checklist.  https://aftw.org/kryn-operations/

With thanks to the FAA's Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office (FSDO's)  Ken Nettles, Office Manager, Frank Waterhouse, Assistant Office Manager, and Ernest R. Copeland, FAA Safety Team Program Manager (FPM) (Airworthiness for their support of this and numerous aviation safety events and products.

Thank you Galen Beem, Town of Marana, Marana Regional Airport Manager; Linda Dralle, Marana Regional Airport Executive Assistant and Michael Ryder, Marana Regional Airport Maintenance Associate for creating and organizing this aviation safety event, donating copies of safety products, tables and chairs, traffic control, etc. and for your continued dedication to aviation safety.

Thank you JDR Logistics for supporting this safety event and arranging for the donation of your beautiful facility for the meeting. Your contributions to aviation safety programs are greatly appreciated.

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Equal Access Information:
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the “Contact Information” area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services.
Credit Applicability:
Basic WINGS
1 Credit for Basic Knowledge Topic 1
1 Credit for Basic Knowledge Topic 2
AMT
1 Hour Total for AMT
FAASTeam Project Information:
NPP10,NPP13,
National Project:
Interface/Collaboration Meeting(s)